Mapping audio low-mid to fractal zoom rate or feedback gain risks runaway whiteout — keep gain in check

In a feedback-zoom fractal, audio-reactivity is achieved by mapping a band amplitude (typically low-mid, a.fft[1], for the music’s body) to either the zoom rate or the iteration depth so the structure blooms with the music. However, the feedback loop that generates self-similarity is sensitive: if zoom rate or feedback gain rises too high in response to a loud passage, the compounding causes runaway brightness (whiteout) or uncontrolled smearing. The design rule: use audio to modulate within a safe range, never drive gain to or above 1.0. This is the same feedback-gain-headroom principle applied to the fractal build route. Prefer envelope-following (amplitude tracks smoothly) over threshold-triggered jumps.

Examples

Hydra: scale(()=>1.005 + a.fft[1]*0.01) — zoom varies 1.005–1.015. Safe. scale(()=>1 + a.fft[1]*0.1) could push to 1.1 per frame = runaway in seconds.

Assessment

A fractal patch maps bass amplitude directly to the feedback zoom scale factor. On a loud drop the scale becomes 1.08 per frame. Predict what will happen and describe the corrective change.